Critters and Chuckles: In Loving Memory of Mama’s Menagerie

After sharing some tender memories and deeper reflections lately, I thought it was time for a little laughter. Some of the funniest moments in our family stories come from the smallest (and furriest) members of the family.

I miss my mama.

One of the things I remember most about her was how she could laugh at herself. I mean, really laugh. The kind of laughter where, before you knew it, you were laughing right alongside her until tears filled your eyes.

Mama didn’t pretend to be perfect. She knew life was full of mistakes and mishaps, and instead of being embarrassed, she found a way to laugh. That was one of the gifts she gave me.

Before Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace was published, Mama gave me permission to include some of these stories. Naturally introverted, she was never one to seek the spotlight, but with family and close friends, her gentle humor came alive. She loved knowing that others might laugh along with her.

Mama had a special place in her heart for animals. She loved them deeply. Maybe a little too deeply.

Her intentions were always good, but somehow her animal adventures didn’t always turn out the way she hoped.

Looking back, those moments became some of our family’s funniest memories.

Grandpa had a saying for those times. He would shake his head, smile, and say they happened because of “plain lack of common sense.”

I share this excerpt from my memoir:

Mama’s Critters

Mama felt more at ease with animals. She had a tender heart for them and always wanted to care for them.

While cleaning a fish bowl, Mama inadvertently dumped all the goldfish down the drain. Gone, just like that.

Then there were the black guppies that Grandpa had bought her. Mama thought that guppies thrived in salt water, so, she sprinkled table salt in the fish bowl for them. Well, they did not thrive.

Alas, she soon discovered them floating on their backs.

Turtles naturally develop bubbles in their nostrils, but Mama thought hers had a cold. She put a few nose drops in each nostril to cure it, only to notice the unfortunate creature had drowned.

Someone gave Mama a beautiful canary. The bird sang expertly and sweetly, and Mama enjoyed feeding him from her hand. But one day, her feathered friend lay lifeless at the bottom of its cage with a bloated stomach.

Mama had fed the sweet thing to death.

Before they divorced, Daddy had given Mama three lovely colorful parakeets. She sometimes let them out of their cage for exercise. They’d fly around the room and return to their cage, until someone forgot to close the windows one morning.

As they flew away, one by one, Mama watched on helplessly.

Guess who had forgotten to shut those windows?

Even in adulthood, Mama’s love for animals continued to lead to a comedy of errors.

Pre-teen Willie had a pet mouse named Pee Wee and kept him in a cage. The white, soft creature had bulging, pink eyes. After they placed Willie in a boy’s home, Mama had the sole responsibility of caring for his furry friend.

When it was time to clean Pee Wee’s cage, she first needed to get the critter out. Not an easy task. Pee Wee ran in circles.

When Mama grabbed him, the frightened mouse continued to wiggle and squirm in her hands. Determined to keep him from escaping, Mama held onto him firmly.

As she coaxed him and stroked his head, at last he calmed.

She then got the shock of her life when she realized that she had talked to and petted one poor, dead mouse.

When I think about Mama now, I don’t just think about the difficult times we lived through together. More and more, I remember her laughter.

Those are the memories that make me smile.

Her pets may not have always fared well, but there was never any doubt they were loved.

And that was Mama.

Sometimes the moments we laugh about years later become the memories we treasure most.

One of my greatest joys was making Mama smile. Today, I know she’s with the Lord, wearing the biggest smile of all and laughing that unforgettable laugh. I can almost hear her saying, “Go ahead, Mary … tell them.”

“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” —Proverbs 17:22

Do you have a family member whose funny mishaps still make you smile years later? I’d love to hear one of your favorite memories in the comments.

Mama is about to chow down on a whole Fried Red Snapper!
But before she does, she says, “Poor fish.” And then she asks, ” Where do I start?!”

Mama and our orange tabby, Rascal, were best of friends!

Dear Readers:

A birthday in heaven deserves a little extra love. A couple of years ago, on what would have been Mama’s birthday, I wrote her a letter. If you’d like to read it, you can find it here:

[Happy Birthday, Mama! 10/10/34 – 5/14/23]